The Washington bee., 1887-01-29

refuse to act with the Republican
party back to their former
condition. If you are Cpl osed to
absolute political freedom of the
Negro, you favor his disfranchise-
ment as a logical sequence. Ac-
cording to this theory, the Negro
was made free simply on. the condi
ton that he should ever remain a
Republican voter. With these plain
facts in view, it is not easy to
award any credit to the "Grand
Old Party" for emancipating the
slaves.
The Republican Senators have
made a fatal mistake; one that
will divide the colored vote and
break dawn the political color line
more effectively than any other
agency now known. Before the
war, the Negro was not free to go
beyond the limits of his masters
possessions and since the war the
Negro has not been free to go be-
yond the lines of the Republican
party. If this transitional state of
bondage is to be perpetuated, then
Lincnln's Emancipation Proclama-
ton was miserable mockery, and
twenty years of liberty is but de-
lusive dream.
When are we to become absO-
lutely free? This menacing Repub-
lican cloven foot has a far reaching
meaning. Instead of a prop for
our citizenship, the Republican
party now threatens our individu
al rights as men and citizens. This
is matter of serious import, and
it addresses itself with peculiar in
terest aud gravity to every think
ing cOlored man in the country.
The case, by the great hum IN prin-
ciple involved in it, is transferred
from Matthews and the Republican
Senators to the cOlored people at
large and the Repnb lean party as
a national organization. If the
Republican Senators correctly rep
resent their party i'm this matter,
the Negro is placed, thereby, be-
tween two political fires-the bour-
bon Democratic element, which is
opposed to Cleveland and Mat
thewS, and the bourbon Republi-
can clement, which refuses to con-
firm Matthews to an important
office IMPLY because he has been
acting with the Democratic party.
Placed in this dilemma, the Negro
Is likely TO accept Cleveland as the
most promising alternative.
If Ingalls, voices the sentiment
of organized Republicanism, the
rimn may not be far distant when
the Cleveland Democrats and the
Republican mugwumps will have
to lead the cause of the Negro as
| an absolute freeman and citizen.
Cleveland means office for the
Negro, be he Democratic or Repub-
for Republican Negroes only. Is
this to be the issue in 1888?
Memphis, (Tenn.) Waterman:
The Washington BEE is max
ing bold fight for the confirma.
ton OF Matthews as Register of
Deeds at Washington, and from
the poin's shown in it's strong
! art cles in his defense it certainly
entities him to be confirmed: es-
pecially after having been placed
under the existing circumstances,
and the nature of things that have
been brought about in regard to
| the future relation of the Negro
to both parties. Has a Negro
Democrat no rights that Repub-
lican Senate is bound to respect?
We think it ought to have as
much respect for him as for any
other Demo crat, irrespective of
color. We are for the Negro first
last and all the time, especially
when he has an opportunity to
improve himself. This co, tinual
Ilgnt IN party ranks Is something
of the past and must be numbered
with the dead issues, when it
comes to the best interest of the
race. AS we stated in our last is-
sue no Republican Negro will be
appointed, so let Matthews have it,
as he is qualified and worthy
Birmingham, (Ala.) Negro A
merican:
The P, esident has again sent to
the Senate the name of MIR. Math-
ews for Recorder of Deeds for the
District of Columbia. The colored
people all over the coun'ry are |
waiting to see if the Republican |
Senate which has not without |
cause refused to confirm other ap
pointments of the President. will. |
for second time, reject Mathews |